Tape-measure.



J. H. HOFFMA'NN.

TAPE MEASURE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15, ms.

1,145,244. Patented ul 6, 1 915.

/ uuewto't JOHN HENRI HOFFMANN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

THE-MEASURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed February 15,1915. Serial No. 8,283.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Jon-s H. HOFFMANN, acitizen oi? the United States of America, and a resident of SanFrancisco, county of San Francisco, State of California, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements 'in Tape-Measures, of whichthe following is a full and clear specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of atape measure constructed in accordance with my improvements: and Fig. 2is an enlarged transverse section taken through one of the marker holesor slots.

The object of this invention is to provide a flexible tape measure, ofthe usual type used by tailors and drcssmakers, with a series ofregularly-spaced. centrally-arranged holes or slots which will, serve asguides in the matter of properly locating and spacing buttons and buttonholes on the garment, as more fully hereinafter set forth. I

In the drawings 1/, designates an ordinary flexible tape measure havingsuitable lineal measure graduations on one or both sides and providedwith a series of regularlyspaced, centrally-arranged slots or openings7). Each of these openings is in the form of a cross, one branch of the'cross being parallel with the edges of the measure and the other,branch being at right angles thereto, the two branches intersecting eachother at the center. In the example shown, these openings are arrangedone inch apart, the centers being arranged coincident with the half-inchmarks of the tape In using this device, the tape is placed upon thegarment and then the operator, by means of a chalk or pencil insertedthrough the proper openings. marks on the garment the positions of thebuttons or button holes. Tf it is to be used for marking the positionsof buttons. the mark will be made in the center of the opening. at theintersection of the crossed branches, the opening being slightlyenlarged at the center to permit this central mark to be easily made. Ifbutton hole positions are to be marked, the chalk or pencil may be runalong either the transverse. branches or the longitudinal branches ofthe. openings, according to which way the button holes are to run on thegarment. As shown, the edges of the openings may be bound with metal 0to stifi'en them, especially at the corners, and thus serve as aneffective guide for the chalk o pencil. Instead of using a chalk orpencil, it will be seen that button holes may be out directly in thegarment by means of scissors or a knife inserted into either one of thecrossed slots. 7

It will be seen that by reason of the regular spacing oi? the openingsin the tape, the garment marker will be able to accurately lay oftbutton or-button hole positions, even where they vary in distancesapart.

' To still further extend the scope of use of my device. 1 provide aseries of holes d centrally ot the tape and intermediate the button andbutton-hole openings 7), these holes (Z being preferably arrangedcoincident with the inch marks. This supplemental series of holes (Zrenders the tape measure highly useful to designers, pattern-makers,draftsmen and others; and it also renders it useful for general templetwork, as for instance for laying out rivet and bolt holes byboilermakers, tinsmiths and others. In fact, this series of holes (Z.regularly spaced, adapts my tape measure for a large number of uses bymechanics and engineers, and, by making the holes small and round, theyserve as an accurate guide for a pencil point or other pointed implementadapted for marking or scribing circles on the particular material beingworked upon.

It will be obvious that I prefer to make my measure of cloth. canvas,flexible metal or other flexible material, but it will be understoodthat the invention may be embodied in rigid li neal measures or rules ofall kinds.

H a ving thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

A flexible tape measure provided, at regular intervals. coincident withthe graduation marks on the tape, with a series of openings For layingofi' the positions of buttons or. button holes, each of said openingsconsisting of a pair of slots crossing each other at the center of thetape. one slot being transverse to the tape and the other beinglongitudinal thereof.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses. JOHN HENRY HOFFMANN. Witnesses:

E. N. SHAW, E. P. SCHMIDT.

